Toy house construction



July 10, 1951 J. BRUNE-T1 2,560,155

TOY HOUSE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 9, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l fc: m W

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O s \d I Y* I i q JNVENTOR. Jos-PH BRU/V577? A TTOENEY July 10, 1951 J.BRuNE'rrl 2,560,155

TOY HOUSE CONSTRUCTION I Fld April 9, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2- I Mmm J.BRuNE'r'n 2,560,155

.TOY HOUSE CONSTRUCTION July l0, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 QI QI O i9 (T WINVENTOR.

f JOSEPH Bew/57W Patented July 10, i1,951

lumbia Protektosite Company,- Inc., Carlstadt, N. JI,- a corporation ofNew Jersey Application April 9, 1948,'Serial No.v19,92`9

4 claims,

'This' invention relates to miniature-house constructions, and moreparticularly is-directed to an easily erected model, display, toy, orplay house structure having readily accessible room spaces simulatingactual or proposed houses adapted to be furnished With portableminiature size furniture, interior decorations and the like.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide 'toy or play houseconstructions of the character described which Shall comprise few andSimple parts that are readily assembled to provide a structuresimulating in miniature form actual or proposed rooms of households o'rapartments, which shall be .made po'rtably collapsible and easilyerected, which .shall be. adapted to be furnished With portableminiature size furniture, interior decorations and the like, which.shall .be cheap to manufacture yet have aesthetic appeal, which .shallbe practical and eliizcientto a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will. .in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The .invention accordingly consists in the fea;- tures of construction,combinations of elements and arrangement vof parts which will beexemplified in the construction.hereinafter described and of which thescope of application will be v.indi cated in the *following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which `is Shown one possibleillustrativeembodiment of this' invention: y

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional View taken-centrally through a toy or playhouse 'constructed Ito embody the invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the improved toy o'r play house shown inFig. l, A Figs. 3 and 4 arefplan views -oi the upper and lower floors,respectively, of the 'improvedtoiy or play heuse as se'en from lines 3=3'and IIl--IL respectively, in Fig.. 1, and

Figs. 5 and 6 4are side elevational and front views, respectively, ofthe improved toy or play house shown in Figs. vl and 2l Referring indetail to the drawing, I0 denotes a toy play house of circularconfiguration y'constructed '-.to embody the invention. i

.Preferably house I0 is made of any suitable lightweight metallic ornonmetallic sheet material and for cheapness may be made principally ofcardboard lithographed orprinted if desired to imitate the Wall, ceilingandyor floor cover-- ings land decorations and the like.

Said house' I0 is 'seen to lcomprise a at .horizntally disposed circularVshaped ibase IfI., which provides a `first door, aninterrnediate:circular dat `shaped horizontally disposed member I2 which provides asecond door spaced from base II, and a at segmentary shaped horizontallydisposed'top I3 which provides a roof spaced from said member I2. Asshown in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4, said base II, member I2 and roof I3 areassembled inspaced superimposed relation to correspond in proportions totheheights with relation to the floor area of the various simulatedrooms or apartments. Said base II, member l2 and roof I3 are demountablyretained in assem-Y bly by suitable means, such as a plurality of spacedapart upstanding st-anchionsl `or rods I4 vextending therethrough closeto the peripher-ies thereof and a similar center. rod I5 uniformlypositioned with respect to said rods I4, said Vrods VIII beingpositioned in parallel alignment and may be set radial-ly at about ,129apart In the constructionin Figs.Y 1,3 and 4,-.saidv rods I4 and II 5may yeach be provided with spaced tubes or sleeves Ma and -I5a,respectively to retain the member I2 and roof I3 insecured horizontallevel alignment with .base I I. Said rods I4 and I5 each may haveshallow headedloWer-ends I'IIb and I-5b, respectively, which arerecessed flush into the bottom side I-Ia of base II. The upper freeiendsof each ofv said rods .|74 may be threadedv as 4at Mc and provided witha suitable nial .such as blind clamping nuts 14d, and'rod I5 may belike'- wise threaded as at I5c and providedwith screw clamping nial I5dshaped :to simulate a radio antenna. Similarly secured in uprightpositions between base II .and member I2, are partitions I6, Il and I8vwhich divide the 'space --therebetween into Achambers vor room sections2U, 2| and 22;, Asection ,20 having an alcove portion .23a in which arestairs 23 and center rod I5 with tube Iiiafex'f tending therethrough, asclear from Figi. 4.1

Said portion I6 may be made with 'an offset extensionrla forming ra wallof said alcove pore tion 20a and la doorway vnr opening .flb com'-nrunicating room section 20-Wi1th room section' 2.I Likewise partitionsITI :and I8 may each .fbe pros vided with suitably vpositioned doorwaysor'openfings Ila and .I.8a,.respectively, communication room sectionZI'with' 22, and room section 22 with .20, respectively.

If desired, :room :section 20 may be furnished with miniature furniture(not shown) fan. enwe closed ,front porch or living room, roompsection lrear, as a kitchen, and room 'section :2.2 -side,as a dining room. YTheWallszof said .partitions,*-.raom ceilings, floor surfaces and interiorhouse trim may be appropriately imprinted, litnographed or otherwisedecorated to conform to the furnishing of the character of the room tobe simulated in the well understood manner.

Said partitions I6, I1 and I8 may be interlocked along their respectiveedges with the base I I and member I4 by any suitable means of simpleconstruction, such as tongue and slot attachments 24. Similarly securedin upright position between the memberv I2 and the roof I3 are secondfloor outer wall portions 25, and partitions 26,

21 and 28 which divide the space therebetween into room sections 29, 30,and 3l and an open- I5 with tube I5a extending therethrough as isV clearfrom Fig. 3. Wall portion 25 having an opening or doorway 25acommunicating with the hallway'32 may have exterior surface 25h of saidwall 25 above the upper iioor decorated to simulate Youter wall buildingconstruction, such as brick, stuccofor shingle. The roof I3 may beextended beyond said wall 25a as at I3a, to provide an eave and to leaveuncovered said member portion I2a to simulate a segmentary shaped openporch as seen from Figs. l, 2, 3 and 5.

' The stairway 23 may be held in place by conventional means, such as,by attachment to members II and I2.

' Said partitions 26, 21 and 28 may be provided with a door opening 26a,21a and 28a, respectively, communicating with hallway 32, and may alsobe firmly set in place by suitable means such as tongue and slotattachment 24.

Room section 29, 30 and 3l may have the walls, floors and ceilingsdecorated to conform to predetermined interior decorations, andfurnished with miniature furniture as for example, a master bedroomnursery and another bedroom or sun parlor, respectively.

The house I may have n0 opaque Vexterior upright walls other thanprovided by wall portion `25. However to provide a simulated frontentrance, a'sheet 34 may be extended to partially encircle the lowerfloor between the two spaced apart stanchions I4. Said sheet 34 may beformed of a exible transparent material such as cellophane or otherplastic and may have imprinted or lithographed thereon a picture of adoorway 34a, directly in alignment and under the doorway 25a. Suitableclip fasteners 35 may be provided on Vthe ends of sheet 34 for engagingAstanchions I4. Said sheet 34 being,` of a height to extend a shortdistance above the portion I2a and circling the same as is clear fromFigs. l, 4, and 6.

If desired a second similar sheet 36 of transparent material may beprovided to encirclethe house extending from the base II to the roof I3and about the sides and rear of the house as indicated in Fig. 4. Saidsecond sheet 36 may also be secured by suitable spring clips (not shown)similar to clips 35 to the stanchions I4 or sheet 36 may be of aresilient material preformed in arcuate shape of less diameter than thatof the house. By flexing the resilient sheet to an increased diameterthe latter may readily be positioned about stanchions I4 and uponrelease thereof will grippingly engage said stanchions I4 as is clearfrom Fig. 4 thereby being retained in position without requiring anyfastening means whatsoever.

In practicing the invention all the parts may be supplied in a knockdowncondition in a box and may be readily assembled to form the toy or playhouse I0 shown in the drawing and described above. The tongue and slotconnections 24 of each of the partitions with a base II, member I2 androof I3 form a rigid `assembled structure when clamped in position bythe rods I4 and I5. With sheet material 34 and 36 removed all the roomsare accessible from the exterior so that miniature furniture (not shown)can be placed about the floors of the diiferentrooms to suit any desiredartistic arrangement, such as a simulated kitchen, livingroom,diningroom, bedroom and the like.

vThe floor surfaces of base II and member I2 may either havev imprintedthereon designs simulating fioor covering or if desired actual cloth orother sheet material may be readily placed or attached for suchpurposes. Likewise, the partition surfaces and ceilings which form wallsfor -the various rooms or apartments may have'imprinted thereon suitablewall paper decorations, framed pictures, mirrors and the like.

The toy house I thus formed'can be easily erected to give readilyaccessible room spaces always visible for simulating actual and proposedarrangements when furnished with portable miniature size furniture anddecorations and the like to conform therewith, and thus provides' a toyor play house of particular interest and appeal to children and togrownups who may use the same to more clearly visualize variousarrangement of rooms.

It is obvious that instead of using a single intermediate circular atshaped horizontally disposed member I2 to provide 'a second floor spacedfrom the base that additional similar horizontally disposed members likemember I2 may be interposed in spaced relation to form a houseconstruction of a plurality of stories.

ItV will thus be seen thatV there is' provided a miniature houseconstruction of the character described in which the several. objects ofthis invention are achieved and which are well adapted to meet theconditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of lthe above invention,and asl various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth,it is tobe understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative andV not in alimiting sense.

Having thus/described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

l. A knockdown toy play houseconstruction of the character describedsuitable for furnishing with miniature furniture comprising a pluralityof horizontally disposed flat members Vpositioned in separatedsuperimposed relationV to form ground and intermediate floors and aroof, a plurality of spaced apart stanchions upstanding from aperipheral portion of said ground floor member removably supporting saidother members in said separated relation, a center stanchion upstandingfrom said ground floor member uniformly spaced from said peripheralstanchions for removably supporting midsections of said members androof, detachable partitions f' extending between said members fordividing spaces therebetween into room sections each with a full openingcommuni,- cating with the exterior to permit full view of and access toeachroom section, a flexible sheet of transparent material having clipsthereon `for engaging two of said peripheral stanchions, said sheetbeing positioned to serve as an outer wall portion for one of said roomsections and formed with a simulated front door for said houseconstruction, at least two of said members being circular in shape, saidroof being segmentary shaped to provide an open deck space on theunderlying intermediate circular member, two of said stanchions beingpositioned in an aligned relation with respect to the straight side ofthe roof member, and an exterior wall partition extending from theunderside of the roof member to the deck between said two stanchions.

2. A knockdown toy play house construction of the character describedsuitable for furnishing with portable miniature furniture comprising aplurality of horizontally disposed flat members positioned in separatedsuperimposed relation to form ground and intermediate doors and a roof,a plurality of spaced apart stanchions upstanding from a peripheralportion of said ground floor member removably `supporting said othermembers in said separated relation, a center stanchion upstanding fromsaid ground floor member uniformly spaced from said peripherallyposition stanchions for removably bracing midsections of said membersand roof, detachable partitions vertically disposed to engage betweensaid members for bracing regions of the latter between said stanchionsand extending to the periphery of said members for dividing spacestherebetween into room sections each with a full opening communicatingwith the exterior to permit full view of and free access to each roomsection, a exible sheet of transparent material having clips thereon forengaging two of said peripheral stanchions, said sheet being formed witha simulated door for said house construction positioned to serve as anouter front wall, at least two of said members being congruently shaped,said roof being of smaller area than each of said congruently shapedmembers for exposing an underlying member to provide an open deck on thelatter, said stanchions each including a rod fitted with sleevesthreaded coaxially therewith to provide combination spacers andsupports, and clamping means carried by the rods for demountablyretaining the stanchions, rods and sleeves with the members as a rigidstructure.

3. A knockdown toy play house construction of the character describedsuitable for furnishing with portable miniature furniture comprising aplurality of horizontally disposed flat members positioned in separatedsuperimposed relation to form ground and intermediate floors and a roof,a plurality of spaced apart stanchions upstanding from a peripheralportion of said ground oor member removably supporting said othermembers in said separated relation, a center stanchion upstanding fromsaid ground floor member uniformly spaced from said peripherallypositioned stanchions for removably bracing midsections of said membersand roof, detachable partitions vertically disposed to engage betweensaid members for bracing regions of the latter between said stanchionsand extending to the periphery of said members for dividing spacestherebetween into room sections each with a full opening communicatingwith the exterior to permit full view of and free access to each roomsection, a flexible sheet of transparent material formed with asimulated door for said house construction extending between two of saidperipherally positioned stanchiens to serve as an outer front wall, clipfastening means for securing said sheet to said peripheral stanchions soconstructed and arranged to permit ready access from the exterior forarrangement of miniature furniture to all the room sections with thesheet in said outer front wall position.

4. A knockdown toy play house construction of the character describedsuitable for furnishing with miniature furniture comprising a pluralityof horizontally disposed flat members positioned in separatedsuperimposed relation to form ground and intermediate floors and a roof,a plurality of spaced apart stanchions upstanding from a peripheralportion of said ground floor member removably supporting said othermembers in said separated relation, a center stanchion upstanding fromsaid ground door member uniformly spaced from said peripheral stanchionsfor removably supporting midsections of said members and roof,

detachable partitions extending between said' members for dividingspaces therebetween into room sections each with a full openingcommunieating with the exterior to permit full view of and access toeach room section, at least two of said members being circular in shape,said roof being segmentary shaped formed with a straight side to providean open front deck spacevon the underlying intermediate circular member,two of said stanchions being positioned in an aligned relation withrespect to said straight side, an exterior wall portion extending froman underside of the roof member to the deck between said two stanchions,a flexible sheet of transparent material formed with a simulated frontdoor for said house construction extending between said two alignedperipheral stanchions in a vertical direction between said ground andintermediate oors to serve as an outer front wall thereat, clipfastening means for securing said sheet to said peripherally positionedstanchions so constructed and arranged to permit ready access from theexterior to all the room sections for arrangement of miniature furniturewhen said sheet is positioned t0 serve as said outer front wa1l.

JOSEPH BRUNETTI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the rile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '739,669 Grimm Sept. 22, 19031,241,594 Williams Oct. 2, 191'7 1,488,872 Fairchild Apr. 1, 19241,493,277 Pool May 6, 1924 2,120,826 Young June 14, 1938 2, 262,700 ReedNov. 11, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 465,002 France June26, 1914

